[Dstar] Re: D-Star and emergencies

[Steven Samuel Bosshard (NU5D)]

Hello friends,

Observations:

Coverage - FM v Dstar - Dstar is equal or better. - Fixed station to 
fixed station very good - mobile flutter and fades are less forgiving 
with dstar (in my opinion).

Noisy room - use headsets.

One BIG difference between IRLP / Echolink / Dstar Gateways - IRLP and 
Echolink take recovered audio from FM receivers and digitizes this in a 
computer and sends it thru the internet, then recovers the data back 
into audio and re-transmits.  When DSTAR leaves the users transmitter it 
remains digital and unaltered until it reaches the receiving user's 
radio.  Digital all the way - no demod / remod. 

We trade hiss and pop and loud and soft for R2D2 or loss of sync.  DSTAR 
does use forward error correction to try and make a recovery. 

Dstar adds a data channel for GPS reporting or short messaging 
concurrent with voice - not bad for a narrow banded radio.

DSTAR replace FM - not in the near future, but dstar does bring 
something different to the ball park.  Also I plan to keep my HF radio 
even though FM is much nicer to listen to.  Also I keep some dusty 
paddles that I can use for CW if things get really bad (I am not a CW op 
by preference but applaud folks with that talent).

My 2 cents, I may be wrong, and your mileage may vary,  73 Steve NU5D, 
K5CTX, Temple, Texas US





Mark Aitken wrote:
> dstar-request at lists.wia.org.au wrote:
>>
>> Hello All
>>             Without going into the technical side of digital radio I   
> We are a technical hobby,  so why not go into it,  we may all learn 
> something?
>